Guardian

"I want a drink of water."

In a U.S. hospital, a nurse or some orderly would be the one to get it. In Korean hospitals, however, it's responsibility of the bohoja (보호자, 保護者). Literally, it means "guardian," though that sounds like the hospital might come under ninja attack or something. I'd probably call describe it as more of a "caretaker".

And that's my job these days, while SY is recovering. When the baby (let's call him "P")wakes up and wants to nurse, it's my job to pick him up from the nursery (which is just across the hallway), and bring him back. When SY wants to get up, it was my job to lift. When meals come, it's my job to set things up.

It was a little stressful at first, because P came earlier than we'd expected, and I couldn't get out of work any sooner than I'd scheduled. In fact, I'm sacrificing precious sleep just to write this post.

It's also a bit tough because I have to do some things that orderlies would do in the U.S. For example, when SY needed to be moved from the wheelie bed to the bed in her room, it was my job to take off my shoes, stand on the bed, grab one side of the sheet supporting her, and pull.

It's stressful, though I'm not sure who has more -- me, or SY, who had to translate this idea while still under anesthetic. It's not so much the words that are the problem ("Like this" is pretty easy vocabulary); it was the idea that this sort of thing is my job.

It'll get a lot easier after Sunday. My Sunday school lesson will be finished and my vacation will start, so I don't have to go to work in the evenings.